Stirrup for skis



Mach 28', 1939,. .l4 BERTRAND STIRRUP FOR sms Filed Dec. 30, 1937- fly/7 i 72206/274911 f alz 'fffa/Za 3% www? 77%0/wrqq Patented Mar. 28, 1939 STIRRUP FOR SKIS Jean Bertrand, Mont-Rolland, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Andre Bertrand, Mont-Rolland,

Quebec, Canada Application December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,578 In Canada April 2, 1937 3 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel stirrup for skis and involves also novel fastening elements carried by the ski boot. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and 5 inexpensive fastening device requiring no straps or buckles and yet adjustable to various widths of shoes.

The stirrup consists of two like members mounted on the ski and having each a substanl tially vertical cheek along an edge of the ski. The ski boot is received between these cheeks, and the sole of the boot carries lugs slidably received in longitudinal slots cut in the cheeks. The slots are obstructed by spring metal plates l except at the forward ends. Thus, the lugs in entering the slots push the spring plates outwardly until reaching the unobstructed forward ends of the slots, whereupon the plates return to their normal position and lock the lugs in the slots. The boot is still comparatively free, al-

though locked, inasmuch as it may turn on the lugs as an axis, such movement being essential in skiing.

The portions of the stirrup members engaging the surface of the ski are concealed beneath a cover plate secured to the ski. These portions are preferably slotted transversely of the ski, and some of the fastening screws for the cover plate pass through the slots to provide guides for ,0 the width-adjusting movement. The cover plate also carries a locking device for securing the adjusted position, and the 4construction is such that the cover plate need only be loosened and not entirely removed to permit adjustment.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of eX- ample by the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective View of the device applied to the two edges of the ski;

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view with a portion removed;

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section illustra-ting the manner of assembly;

Figure l is a similar section after the assembly has been completed;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5--5 and respectively of Figure 2, and

Figure I is a side elevation corresponding to Figures l and 2 and showing the boot in outline.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters that are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

At a point on the ski I approximately twothirds the distance from the forward to the rear end of the ski, are mounted two members 2 forming a stirrup. These members are positioned beneath a substantially square plate 3, the ends of which are secured to the ski by screws 4. The members2 are cut from a metal sheet of irregular shape and are bent to an angular configuration as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The horizontal portions thereof are rectangular and provided each with two slots 5 extending transversely of the ski and with a notch 6 at the center of the longitudinal inner edge. Each notch 6 is substantially rectangular, and the opposite parallel edges thereof are serrated at 'l for a purpose that will presently be described. The remaining or nearly vertical sides of the members 2 diverge slightly with reference to the upper plane of the ski I and constitute the stirrup. These sides also converge towards the forward end of the ski, which is at the right of Figure 2.

The vertical sides of the members 2 are extended rearwardly at 8 and provided each with an elongated slot 9. At the extension 8 is riveted a longitudinal piece of spring metal IB which is thus maintained parallel to the vertical part. The free or forward end of the piece Ii) is eX tended by a tab II to provide a ready grip for separating the free end of the spring metal piece I0 from the adjacent side of the member 2, as shown in Figure 3. The pieces I0 and II are formed with apertures I2 registering with each other and with the forward end of the slot 3 in the adjacent member 2.

The slots 5 receive screws I3 which are initially inserted through the member 3, as shown in Figure l and enter the ski I.

An elongated member I4, widened at the ends is mounted with its ends in the recesses 6. The enlarged ends are toothed or serrated along both parallel edges at I5 and meshed with the serrations 'I in the notches 6 previously described. The member I4 is secured to the member 3 by rivets I3. Finally, the member 3 is bent or arched transversely at I'I near the rivets so that its ends may be firmly secured to the ski while the intermediate part is elevated from the top of the ski to provide a space accommodating the stirrup 2.

In conjunction with the parts already described, the soles I8 of the boots I9 are provided with lugs 20 secured to the edges of the soles by means of plates 2l riveted thereto near the toe, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4.

In the use of the device, the shoe I9 provided with lugs 2li as described is inserted in the stirrup comprised of the vertical portions of the members 2.

The shoe is inserted from the rear or l Il wider part of the stirrup and is then pushed forwardly so that each lug 20 enters slot 9 and slides forwardly therein as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. In this movement the lug 2D separates the spring member I from the side 2, as also shown in Figure 3. When the lug 20 reaches the forward end of the slot, it registers with the apertures I 2 in members I0 and II, whereupon the member I0 returns into contact with the member 2 and the lug is locked in the aperture, as illustrated in Figure 4. The shoe is thereby fastened to the ski by means of the lugs 20 on which the shoe is adapted to pivot, being otherwise free to rise from the ski. This means of attachment is very secure and yet -permits the maximum of freedom at the shoe, without requiring straps or buckles. To remove the shoe from the ski, it is merely necessary to spring one of the members I0 outwardly by pressing on the attached finger piece I I, so that the lug ZDfat this side is freed and the opposite lug readily withdrawn from its slot.

The construction of the Vstirrup beneath the plate 3 permits adjustment to various widths of shoes. The adjustment is made by first lifting the cover plate 3 and the member I4 riveted thereto. The members 2 are then permitted to slide along the axis of the slots 5. In this connection it is to be noted that the plate 3 need not be entirely removed but loosened at the screws 4 and I3 to permit the member I4 to be raised out of contact with the members 2. Then, the screws I3 serve as` guides for the members 2 while the stirrup is being adjusted tothe proper width. After the adjustment, the member I4 is lowered to mesh with the serrations 1, whereby both members 2 are locked to the member I4, and the cover plate 3 is then screwed down as formerly.

It may now be seen that the adjustment of the stirrup is a comparatively simple matter and usually remains xed thereafter so long as worn with the same size of shoe.v

Although a specic embodiment ofthe invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations to the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A stirrup for skis comprising a pair of members adapted for attachment to the ski and to extend substantially vertically therefrom at the longitudinal edges of the ski, each of said members having a longitudinal slot, and a spring metal plate secured at one of its ends to each of said members and obstructing the adjacent slot except at its forward end, for the purpose described, the other end of said plate being exposed in the form of a finger piece.

2. A stirrup for skis comprising a pair of members adapted for attachment to the ski and to extend substantially vertically therefrom at the longitudinal edges of the ski, each of said members having a longitudinal slot, a spring metal plate secured to each of said members and obstructing the adjacent slot except at its forward end, for the purpose described, said members having portions for slidably engaging the upper surface of the ski, and locking means for securing said portions together in a selected relative position on the ski.

3. In combination with a ski, a stirrup comprising a pair of members slidably mounted on the ski to permit adjustment of the width of the stirrup, each member having a serrated notch in the portion thereof engaging the skia cover plate over said portions, and a locking member carried by the cover plate and having serrations adapted to interlock with the serrated notches, said portions having slots extending transversely of the ski, and screws securing the cover plate to the ski and passing through said slots to serve as guides in the transverse adjustment of said members.

JEAN BERTRAND. 

